Go Live

I think the time has come.

2.21 HOT List from the Atlantan

EAT NOW!
Change is good (no, really!) at muy caliente tapas restaurant Loca Luna's new digs that ups the tropical paradise factor (waterfalls, palm trees, koi pond, live samba) while still featuring all your festive faves (ceviche, braised spare ribs, paella, mojitos). The mucho gratis parking isn't bad either. 550 Amsterdam Ave. NE, Virginia Highland, Morningside, 404.875.4494.

SHOP NOW!
There'll be no singing the blues at über-hip boutique Blue Genes' new outlet store. Instead we predict the store within a store will induce oodles of giddiness among bargain-hunting fashionistas for their big discounts on hard-to-find designer labels (think 20 to 70 percent off must-haves like Candace Ang black flats, a Hanii Y leather jacket, William Rast vintage trouser jeans) while the $25 rack (featuring a soft Harlow tee) may just become our new hangout.

Blue Genes
3400 Around Lenox Dr.
Buckhead
404.231.3400

PARTY NOW!
You could spend hours trolling MySpace to track down the next big thing in the Southeast's underground music scene (yawn) or check out The Devil Stole the Beat instead. The BMI/ASCAP grassroots showcase, now in its eighth year, brings together local on-the-verge musicians (alt-country Arum Rae and indie popsters Ski Club come to mind) and the creative types that love 'em for 16 performances over two nights. Feb. 20-22, $6, $10 for a three-day pass.
Smith's Olde Bar
1580 Piedmont Ave. NE
Midtown
404.614.0006

GET SMART NOW!
We're not sure how one develops a love for caves (obviously it doesn't involve claustrophobia) but the IMAX film, Journey Into Amazing Caves, the result of two scientists' passion for underground voids, is beautiful. Discover the joys of spelunking (that's cave exploration to you and me) at the Fernbank Museum. Through May 4, various times, $13. 767 Clifton Rd., Druid Hills, 404.929.6400.

Need a cake?

Joshua John can really bake em. But they are so pretty would you really want to eat them?

Josh is obviously not trying to do business online, since his website is awful, but the few pictures he does have are gorgeous.

His cupcakes look like they are now for sale in Outwright Bookstore, which I happen to live very close to, I may just have to go try one out and see if they taste as good as they look...

Gorilla art?

Ok, seriously.

I get millions of newsletters and things but this really stands out. Apparently art has gone to a new level. Gorilla level. The two gorillas, Koko and Michael, in Cali. have begun to do their own paintings, and some genius decided to make digital reproductions (a limited number, of course) for people with WAY too much money to buy.

As if that's not enough, they also let the gorillas name the paintings.. things such as "Pink, Pink, Stink, Nice Drink" and "Stink Gorilla More." No, I'm not kidding.

This is taken straight from the newsletter, I think it's hilarious..
"Pieces run just $100-$350 (so feel free to go ape shit), with proceeds going
toward the preservation, protection, and well-being of the species.
And that’s no monkey business."

It is going toward a good cause, but as for the artwork.. get your kid to paint you something.

If you want to see for yourself, check out koko.org

Bronchitis..

is over!! The z-pack worked just as planned.. I'm almost 100% I am still coughing but its tons better.. I hate being sick.

The HOT List!

EAT NOW!
The Chinese believe we all start off fresh at the beginning of each new year. Well, wipe your slate clean with the Chinese New Year Celebration at Indochine hotspot STEEL. Celebrate the Year of the Rat with a three-course dinner (sweet and sour ribs, hoisin duck breast) and a lion dance performance to ward off bad luck. Partake in other end-of-year Chinese traditions and do some major cleaning (starting with your plate) and family visiting. Better yet, invite them and maybe they'll pick up the tab. Feb. 7-9, 7PM, $40.
STEEL Restaurant & Lounge
950 W. Peachtree St.
Midtown Plaza
404.477.6111

The rain in Spain may fall mainly on the plain but for flavorful and authentic Iberian cuisine in Atlanta (saffron-infused paella, gazpacho, plancha-grilled seafood) head to Cuerno, the nuevo spot from Riccardo Ullio. The resto's salvaged metal sculpture of Spain's four-legged iconic symbol is, um, no bull. 905 Juniper St., Midtown, 678.904.4589.


SHOP NOW!
Think Project Runway meets High School Musical (minus the hissy fits and embarrassing Polaroids) when Grady High School fashion students show off their stylish designs at LUXE Deconstructed Couture Fashion Showcase. Like what you see? The tricked-out vintage items from 11 students are up for grabs ($250), as is the gratis food and bevies from JCT Kitchen. Expect plenty of one-of-a-kind creations with nary an impromptu pop song in sight. Feb. 7, 7PM-10PM, no cover.
LUXE-Atlanta
1000 Marietta St.
Downtown
404.815.7470


PARTY NOW!
Just because the holiday was originally named after two Christian martyrs (and may have involved animal sacrifice!), there's no reason not to have a rollicking fun time at Valensteins 2008, Atlanta's largest Jewish Valentine's Day party. Join 500 of your closest friends (and make new ones!) as you get into the romantic spirit with Geisha House's sexy atmosphere. The specially priced cocktails and gratis apps should help. Feb. 9, 9PM-2:30AM, $15-$20.
Geisha House
1380 Atlantic Dr.
Atlantic Station
404.355.6949

GET SMART NOW!
A tale full of family scandals, gossipmongers and Southern culture (no, not the Spears' saga), Cold Sassy Tree makes its Atlanta operatic debut at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Religion, death and social taboos get the sassy treatment in this story from Georgia-native Olive Ann Burns. Feb. 7, 8 and 10, $28-$97. 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, 770.916.2800.

Bronchitis...

I'm sick.. I have bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks*. Acute bronchitis is characterized by cough and sputum (phlegm)** production and symptoms related to the obstruction of the airways by the inflamed airways and the phlegm, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. Diagnosis is by clinical examination and sometimes microbiological examination of the phlegm. Treatment may be with antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is suspected), bronchodilators (to relieve breathlessness) and other treatments.

I went to the doctor today and got a z-pack.. should be better in no time..


*hopefully not in my case
**mine's a nice yellowish green

growing up..

..is hard to do..

"We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?" -Meredith, Grey's Anatomy"

For the record..

I'm having the worst week ever.

I won't go into anymore details, I will spare you.

Just know. It's bad.

You're right, it could always be worse, but it's still bad.


Is it the weekend yet?

The HOT List!

It's Thursday again, so that means I have the newest HOT List! Again, this is totally taken from the Atlantan magazine, just didn't want to take credit for their work..


EAT NOW!
In the beginning, there was fire and it was good. Then things got much better when TWO. urban licks came to town with its 14-foot-tall wood pit rotisserie. Expect it to get even hotter with chef Cameron Thompson at the helm. Be on the lookout for this two-year vet of the still-red-hot resto to work his love for creative food onto the daily changing menu (a crispy shrimp po' boy perhaps?). Stay calm: The salmon chips and pork mac 'n' cheese aren't going anywhere.
TWO. urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Blvd.
Midtown
404.522.4622

Another option:
Think there's no time to grab dinner before the show? Think again. Sweet Lowdown's new three-course dinner special is just $23 from 5PM to 7PM, and with dishes like she crab soup, Southern fried chicken and chocolate bourbon pecan pie, the only thing better is the totally convenient Midtown location. 942 Peachtree St., Midtown, 404.207.1324.

SHOP NOW!
Tap into your creative side at the ART PAPERS' 9th Annual Art Auction. Mingle with other arty types as you bid silently (shhh…) on paintings, sculptures, photos and other contemporary works from leading local (Katherine Taylor, Michael Gibson) and international (Sarah Morris, Joachim Koester) artists. Nibble on treats from Atlanta's newest fave Peasant Bistro as you chill with tunes from Tom DeGroot. Feel better knowing your purchase helps support art-related programs. Collectors' Preview Feb. 1, 7PM-9PM, $100 (includes Sat. admission). Silent auction, Feb. 2, 7PM-10PM, $25-$30.
Mason Murer Fine Art
199-B Armour Dr.
Midtown
404.588.1837

PARTY NOW!
Forget about minding your Ps and Qs. It's all about the three Ps (Pabst, popcorn, pizza) at indie-lovin' boutique 1*FIVE*O's monthly fusion bashes. Listen to honey-voiced cutie Gary Pfaff as you check out folk-esque art from Nathan Tavel. Do some shopping (local designers rule here) and get 20 percent off your next purchase. Jan. 31, 7PM–10PM, $5 donation. 1000 Marietta St., Downtown, 404.474.4102.

GET SMART NOW!
These three Russians all wrote these masterpieces while still in their 20s (no slackers here!) to less than stellar opening reviews. Come pay your respects now to Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 1 when director Robert Spano leads the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a three-day engagement. If at first you don't succeed, well, you know. Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 8PM, $15-$65.
Woodruff Arts Center
Symphony Hall
1280 Peachtree St.
Midtown
404.733.5000

Daily Candy...

No, not the candy you're thinking.. this isn't my normal airheads or skittles, its my new favorite website, Daily Candy!

I LOVE knowing what's going on in and around the city, knowing the new restaurants and shops that are opening and what the newest hot spot is. This website seems to have it all, they have travel ideas, good deals, not to mention the cutest artwork ever.

This is a very well done website and I really just wanted to give a shoot out. I love Daily Candy.

I hate today.

This morning I was supposed to have a sales demo this morning this was canceled due to one of their managers having the flu, bad day for her..

A girl was supposed to come look at my car, the celica, to see if she wanted to buy it-- she needed to reschedule..

The real kicker..

I just went to get my tag for my car.. i was one day late after the allotted 30 days.. since its new i wasn't supposed to have to pay the taxes on it, but since i was a day late.. i had to pay the whole thing, $600. I am not a happy camper.

one day cost me $600
big mistake.

Lesson learned--If you buy a new car, no matter what the dealership says, you do not have to wait on any paperwork, title or anything. Go directly to the tax office, do not pass go, do not collect $100 or else, you will have to pay them $600 for a stupid tag.


Another funny thing.. I was going to get one of those wildflower tags, but I asked how much extra that would cost, $45 initial cost, and then $25 extra a year. I was too cheap to even buy that, but then I had to pay $600 for the stupid free one! DAMNIT!

Dreams

'Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when they're playing
Say... women... they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean... you'll know'
-Fleetwood Mac, Dreams

I was listening to the radio the other day and noticed these lyrics and they just kinda hit to be true. People can treat you so awesome to your face, but do they really feel that way, or do they just treat everyone else the same way?

Cats

For Christmas I got my parents tickets to the Fox to see Cats and Rent. Both really famous broadway shows. We went to see Cats last saturday. Well, for starters it was a toss up whether they would be able to come up here or not, bc of the weather. But they ended up making the journey to my home in Atlanta. We walked (barefoot*) in the snow (uphill both ways) to see this show, and well... it just didn't do it for me. I think I caught my dad sleeping during the first half and may have even caught myself zoning out a time or two. It was just strange, hard to follow, and kinda (dare I say) boring.

I like musicals, but I am definitely not a fan of Cats. I only hope Rent is better.

*I wasn't actually barefoot, I had on these tiny black flats (which I adore) but they don't have the best sole on them, especially not for walking around in the snow

Dirty Screen..

If you need to get your screen cleaned, click here

It really does work :)

The HOT List

The new hot list for this week..

EAT NOW!
For those who can't stand to wait until dinner to sink your teeth into one of the fab tapas dishes from one of our fave chefs--Hector Santiago--your wait is over. Pura Vida, and all of its Puerto Rican-inspired tapas, is now open for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. And we all know his killer paella is reason enough to drag you out of your weekend slumber just in time to grab a table at noon!
Pura Vida
656 North Highland Ave.
Poncey Highland
404.870.9797

SHOP NOW!
Join fellow petal pushers in an all-things-orchid shopping spree with plants, books, stationery, drawings and photographs at the Atlanta Botanical Garden market. Find out what it takes to grow these strangely beautiful flowers (not much it turns out!) from on-hand orchid experts. Jan. 26 & 27, 9AM-5PM; $12. 1345 Piedmont Ave., Midtown; 404.876.5859.

PARTY NOW!
Staying in your seat won't be an option at the sixth annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. See what it takes to be one of the 10 best Historically Black College and University marching bands in the country (synchronized drumlines, flashy uniforms and high-step dancing definitely help). Jan. 26, 3PM; $10. The Georgia Dome; 404.223.8427.

GET SMART NOW!
As American icons goes, Coca-Cola, as they say, is it. That's what Andy Warhol thought, too. Judge for yourself if things really do go better with Coke at the NEW World of Coca-Cola's exhibit of 30 of the pop culture artist's soda-inspired pieces. In addition to the linen, paper, screen-printing and gelatin prints, content from Warhol's time capsules are displayed along with several of his experimental films. Through May 31; $8-$15.
NEW World of Coca-Cola
121 Baker St.
Downtown
404.676.5151

The HOT List

I get tons of mail to junk up my inbox, but one of the millions is the HOT list by the Atlantan magazine.. I get this newsletter every Thursday and I will try to be better about posting some of the ideas it gives, that sound cool to me.. (this is my blog, by the way) So for this week..

EAT NOW!
The '80s are back minus the leg warmers and bad hair (whew!) with Yoforia, Atlanta's newest contender in the fro-yo wars. Get your fix of their frozen, low-calorie, non-fat goodness (green tea, tart, pomegranate) at any of three newly opened stores in Perimeter Mall, Virginia Highland and Alpharetta. Leave the shoulder pads at home. 888.YOFORIA.

SHOP NOW!
s that a cold we feel coming on or is it just boutique bargain fever? Join the rest of Atlanta's stylish gals at the humongous two-day blowout, Boutique Bargains Clearance Sale, featuring fall and winter merch from all the fashionable stores (Pink Lemonade, Bilthouse, Sandpiper) at 50 to 70 percent off. This year's new location means bigger dressing rooms, more parking and more room for Prada, Jimmy Choo, Trina Turk and Theory. We feel better already. Jan. 18-19, 10AM-6PM; cash or check only.
Boutique Bargains Clearance Sale
Above Z Gallerie
231 18th St. NW
Atlantic Station
770.433.2989

PARTY NOW!
Happy hour gets downright giddy at Thrive's Sushi Rock Tuesday. You'll be on a roll as you grab some sushi (no sticky wings here) and $4 drink specials (a vodka Red Bull perhaps?) as you chill on one of the mod white couches or zebrawood bar stools. Jan. 22, 8PM-10PM; no cover. 101 Marietta St., Downtown; 404.389.1000.

GET SMART NOW!
We predict there'll be no snoozing going on when the Tony Award-winning spoof of old musicals, The Drowsy Chaperone, comes to town. There are '20s-era gangsters on the lam, a glamorous bride-to-be, a Latin lothario and plenty of singing in this zany marriage of music and comedy. Jan. 22-27, various times; $21-$51. 600 Peachtree St. NE, Midtown; 404.881.2100.

Enjoy!

Monster Jam..

I went to Monster Jam on Saturday, yes I'm serious--the monster truck thing. It wasn't as bad as you may think. It was redneck heaven, but there were also some normal people in attendance as well. Gravedigger, Massive Destruction, and Blue Thunder were all bigger than you can imagine. They jumped over school buses and other wrecked cars. There was more sitting around waiting for stuff to happen than I had hoped.

During freestyle, the most anticipated part of the whole show, there were WAY too many popped tires than I would have hoped. The guys couldn't destroy their trucks as much as the crowd hoped.

It was pretty entertaining, definitely different, and pretty fun. I must admit I enjoyed myself, but remember I am from the country. You can take the girl out of the country but I guess you can't take the country out of the girl.

My Pet..

...Peeves

Bad Drivers .. and slow drivers

When people don't use their blinker.. hello that's what they are for

Bad Grammar.. double negatives are the worst!

Misspellings.. like the word their when you mean there EH...

When I want to get off the phone but whoever I'm talking to won't let me go.. if i'm ever on the phone with you and i say something like ok, well i guess i'll let you go, just let me go, i am not in the mood to talk..

when people try to tell me what to do.. you're not the boss of me now..

negative people..

complaining ..really, thats not going to make anything any better, but i understand sometimes you just need to vent, and I totally do both..

people who can't take a joke.. im really just not that serious of a person, lighten up!

when people talk on their cell phone when checking out ..i dont know why this bothers me

when people don't make eye contact.. and SMILE! your face won't break.. i promise!

nosy neighbors.. stay outta my business my life is not a book, you don't need to know every detail

shedding animals.. i am clean, i don't like hair all over me.. and no, my dog does not shed, she is perfect.

when people wear black shoes with a brown belt, or vice versa..


oh, the list can go on and on.. but these are a few of the annoyances that were on the top of my head, so i thought i would share..

Top 25 Men...

...Who Look Like Old Lesbians

One of the girls I work with sent me this most awesome site

It's hilarious. check it out.